Eventers' core values

[piccolittle]

I was poking around the USEA site just now and I saw a statement of our governing body's core values.

Amongst big ones like "integrity," "horse welfare," "safety" etc etc, we have "the thrill"!

I think that's hilarious. And it's so true!

What are your values as eventers and horse people? What is it about our sport that really inspires you?

[EiRide]

What are your values as eventers and horse people? What is it about our sport that really inspires you?

The independence of the classic eventer--no coaches screaming from the sidelines, just you and your horse out on course or in your test, demonstrating all your hard work. Or not! ;-)

I love the cross training. I used to hate the dressage, but I learned how to *do* it much better, and now I do more dressage than fence work (although I do tons of hacking out, too).

Those moments when it all comes together and you nail something that scares the bajeezus out of you, I love that feeling. Also, the fact that in spite of courses trending in ways I am not perhaps thrilled about, the lower levels *are* multiplying and there are options and levels for all sorts of riders.

I used to pull up at events with my ancient Hartmen hooked to my mom's submarine of a car, and my horse cost less than the tack on the horse I was parked next to. But you know, back in the day that didn't mean doodly squat when it came to coming home with a ribbon. These days, dressage is a much bigger player in placings; my mare with the scores consistently in the middle 30s is a middle of the pack after dressage sort of girl now, while I remember a time when that would have been considered pretty darn good. Do ya Remember when scores in the 20s were jaw dropping?? But still, at the end of the day, if you can't gallop around the XC and do your job in stadium, you are not going to be queen of the heap. ;-)

So that's what I love.

[Rescue_Rider9]

EiRide- I still pull up to horse shows in my little trailer! Just got back from Flying Cross Schooling event and I was super out of place. No only was my trailer a bumper pull (not too many were), but it looks like this :http://www.freehorseads.com/trailer/photo.php?adnum=11660 I love my trailer to death. Got it brand new for my 14th Bday and 5 years later it still looks brand new, but I was parked in between two 4 horse sundowner trailers with living quarters! haha most of the trailers there were huge trailers! haha

[retreadeventer]

Here's something that really inspires me.

Back in April, I think, I was up at Fair Hill walking a course. I saw a friend, Judy Thayer, so also helps to put on the International in the fall. I said hi, and oh by the way, I have something I want to ask you about working at the International in the fall, are you thinking about that yet?

And she laughed. She said, I am ALWAYS thinking about it. I can't sleep at night thinking about it.

This what 6 months away. That is dedication and committment and caring about the sport and a lot of other things to me, what it takes to organize an event so the rest of us can go out and have fun every weekend. Or so the upper level riders can put on a show for us. There is way too much stuff about us riders, and not nearly enough respect, praise and volunteering to keep the sport alive and thriving.

What inspires me is seeing competitors riding one week and volunteering the next.

[EiRide]

EiRide- I still pull up to horse shows in my little trailer! Just got back from Flying Cross Schooling event and I was super out of place. No only was my trailer a bumper pull (not too many were), but it looks like this :http://www.freehorseads.com/trailer/photo.php?adnum=11660 I love my trailer to death. Got it brand new for my 14th Bday and 5 years later it still looks brand new, but I was parked in between two 4 horse sundowner trailers with living quarters! haha most of the trailers there were huge trailers! haha

Hey, I'm 41 and still have the bedroom furniture and half the living room furniture I got used to go to grad school when I was 22! BUT I have a kick tushie Hawk Gooseneck and a great fence! ;-)

Choices choices . . .

[case solved]

The independence thing is a big one for me too. Eventers work so hard, a lot of times without a trainer that holds their hand over everything. (It's pretty hard to hold someone's hand when you're flying over an xc fence :D)
I'm a young rider and event on a limited budget like so many of us do. It always inspires me how willing other eventers are to offer a helping hand or let you borrow a piece of equipment you bought. Everyone seems to remember when they were first starting out and needed help and pay it forward those new to the sport.
But really....... we're just plain fun! Competitors parties where you can wear muddy boots and your helmet hair from xc are the best!

[Fixerupper]

the horse...the horse...the horse

[Rescue_Rider9]

haha if I werent 19 and in College, EiRide, I would have the exact same stuff! As soon as I can I want a nicer trailer. I dont know if I want a Gooseneck though.. Id have to buy a bigger truck.. I love my truck now.. plus my parents are amazing and bought it for me, but I dont think I can convince them to get me a bigger one.. maybe when I graduate College!! haha I do love my trailer though.. just because its mine!

[EiRide]

haha if I werent 19 and in College, EiRide, I would have the exact same stuff! As soon as I can I want a nicer trailer. I dont know if I want a Gooseneck though.. Id have to buy a bigger truck.. I love my truck now.. plus my parents are amazing and bought it for me, but I dont think I can convince them to get me a bigger one.. maybe when I graduate College!! haha I do love my trailer though.. just because its mine!

When I was 19 and in college I had three jobs so I could take my horse with me . . . in her crappy old trailer! :-)

The Goose is a recent addition, much loved already, and my 3/4 ton GMC does just fine with it.

[Rescue_Rider9]

:) Im working to take her to school too, but bored is only $100 a month so I dont have to work too hard. My GMC is a 1500 idk what kinda ton that is haha

[EiRide]

:) Im working to take her to school too, but bored is only $100 a month so I dont have to work too hard. My GMC is a 1500 idk what kinda ton that is haha

My board was more than that back in the day--but I did have to buy books and food as well as her board, shoes, shots, etc.

And it's a 1/2 Ton.

[seeuatx]

That I could pull up with my clunker F-150 and 2h bumper pull with no dressing room, pull out my racetrack reject, my demo saddle that I babysat and built and sold jumps with my dad to afford, put on breeches and a coat from the tack store clearance rack... and still play the game with no raised eyebrows.

My whole get up costs less than some people's horses, and I might stall next to someone with some big money WB, brand new truck and 4horse H-2-H trailer, and instead of a disdainful sniff they offer me a beer.

Because I still think that for the majority of us, it is what is between you and your horse. If it isn't working out there, shrug it off, go home and work on it and better luck next time.

[wildlifer]

That I could pull up with my clunker F-150 and 2h bumper pull with no dressing room, pull out my racetrack reject, my demo saddle that I babysat and built and sold jumps with my dad to afford, put on breeches and a coat from the tack store clearance rack... and still play the game with no raised eyebrows.

My whole get up costs less than some people's horses.

BINGO. My trailer is new, but it has *gasp* stock sides (I am a ventilation nazi) and my truck is a 13 year old Tahoe *gasp encore*. My horse was a trail horse and I show dressage in my CC saddle. But our hard work is just as well rewarded as the kid parked next to me whose parents bought her a horse from a pro and whose saddle cost more than I make in a month and (at least most) people won't give me The Snob Look for that.

[denny]

Drunken survivors of some tough x-c course dancing on the table at the Sat night competitor`s party.

Now THAT`S a core value!

Add 100 points if your dancing partner was Jack Le Goff!!!

[Ritazza]

Drunken survivors of some tough x-c course dancing on the table at the Sat night competitor`s party.

Now THAT`S a core value!

Add 100 points if your dancing partner was Jack Le Goff!!!


Amen, Denny, amen!!! :lol::lol::lol:

[Rescue_Rider9]

Do all events have these parties.. I wanna go!!

[His Greyness]

Whenever I hear the phrase "core values" nowadays, I know I am dealing with an organization that has lost its way and has called in the $500/hour management consultants. Said management consultants, thinking billable hours, get their clients to sign up for "leadership" courses to teach them common sense ideas dressed up in new psycho-babble words. Sort of like Parelli and "Natural Horsemanship".